Happy Easter!
Posted on March 23, 2008 - Filed Under Guatemala |
Here in Guatemala, Easter and Holy Week are a big deal, but not because of bunnies and eggs . . . There are processions every day all over the country, telling the story of Jesus. It´s really a fascinating culture and if you EVER have a chance to visit during Semana Santa, I highly recommend it.
For me, Holy Week isn´t so exciting. Irving is off working, playing in the processions and he is often on his feet for 10 hours or more at a time. In fact two days ago, he was in back to back processions, meaning he was walking for TWENTY-FIVE hours! I personally have NO idea how he does it, but he can earn quite a bit of money this time of year, so he says it´s worth it . . . I wouldn´t do that for any amount of money. He arrives home, sunburnt, weary and with his lip all swollen and bleeding from playing the clarinet for so many days in a row. His last procession ended at 3 am, so he´s in the other room sleeping at the moment!
Since I didn´t get to see a single procession this year, I have no photos to show. 
But every year they are different and thousands of people turn out to carry massive floats that are up to half a city block long. People spend hours making beautiful “alfombras” or carpets out of colored sawdust, fruit and flowers.
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3 Responses to “Happy Easter!”
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The processions sound wonderful. Maybe next year it will be easier for you to take the boys to one, when Dorian is a little bigger and Dante is walking.
Poor Irving. I cannot imagine having the stamina to be awake for 25 hours, much less walking the whole time AND playing the clarinet! That’s insane. He must be one determined guy.
I wish you and all your boys a happy Easter!
Awake for 25 hours… oh dear, how does he do it??? Lots of coffee perhaps??
Sounds like a lot of fun though! So how many eggs did you get to eat?? Truth now… Or did ‘the boys’ eat them all???
Lots of Red Bull is the trick. Plus a beer in V8 once in a while on the very long treks. :S
Yes, Bernie, I did eat a lot of eggs
. . . but Dorian certainly had his fair share of creme eggs. 
NO one will eat the dyed ones! I´m going to try and get those pics up today, if I can get back on my computer.